A/N – Sorry for the delay, weather and stuff. I like this chapter, hope you do too. Sorry, it isn't 10000 words but it is over 6. Thanks so much for the reviews.
Chapter 44
"This is the cottage ? What do they call the house ?" Tim asked walking in and seeing the great room he was standing in.
"We call it the house Dad, can I get you something ?" Amy asked. "Coffee, strudel ?"
"Strudel ?"
"It's an apple pastry, German I think, with powdered sugar, I'll get you a piece, go sit down."
"Why are these other people here ?"
"Well Betty goes where she goes this is her ranch and Meg and Bert are family, best friends."
"I thought Trish was your best friend."
"Yeah, I guess that's weird to other people, anyway, I've got no secrets."
They each took coffee or tea and found places to sit. They put out a platter of baked goods in the center of the grouping from which people could help themselves. Amy brought a piece of Katz's strudel to Tim.
Amy and Ty sat down on the couch, Wyatt sat down on the floor leaning against the couch next to where Amy was sitting with Ty. Georgie sat down in front of him and then leaned back automatically getting wrapped up in Wyatt's arms.
"You two going to neck ?" Tim asked.
"We're getting married Tim, the whole your granddaughter is in love and happy is supposed to make you smile." Georgie said.
"You're right, do I have to be happy watching you struggle through life too ?."
"We're not struggling, don't concern yourself." Georgie answered.
"I guess not now that Amy's got you."
"Actually" Bert Koenig interrupted, "the only person on this ranch with the final authority to hire or fire a member of the veterinary staff is me Tim. I want Georgie here."
"Thank you Bert." Georgie said with a smile.
"You're very welcome Georgie." He answered with a smile and a nod.
"You still can't have her Bert, she's my TA." Amy said.
"And my second." Ty added.
"Show me the love" Georgie sang and danced from her spot with her arms in the air.
"So you're staying ?" Lou asked laughing.
"If the schools work out Lou" Wyatt said
"And you, Wyatt, what's your part in all of this ?"
"Excuse me Tim ?, Georgie and I are getting married."
"I mean here Slick."
"Dad" Amy said softly.
"Wyatt Ok ?"
"I'll be working for the foundation and hopefully going to school."
"And money, a place to live ?"
"We have jobs, I'm not sure about where we'll live, Amy mentioned the ranch but we'll get by Tim, like we have been."
"You'll get by."
"Yes, Grandpa, we'll get by, what is your problem, you know." Georgie started.
"Georgie" Amy said getting her attention. "Yes Dad if you must know, I haven't asked Betty yet but we have plenty of place in the house and at least two open lofts and we're building again in the spring. Georgie and Wyatt are welcome here at the ranch or if they choose to be on their own and closer to campus, they can certainly afford a nice place on their combined salaries. Dinner anytime, hugs, horses, a friendly ear or whatever are always welcome to them here. I'm not giving them anything, they are making a commitment to Pegasus and it to them."
"Maybe we should get on with why we're here." Jack mentioned from a chair off to the side. "When are you going to stop this nonsense Tim, struggle is part of life too, it makes us stronger."
"One of the key tenets of natural medicine." Amy said. "Let's start this by revealing a secret and maybe lighten the mood. The full name of the Pegasus Foundation is Pegasus, the Marion Bartlett Fleming Foundation. We're going to officially at least change plaques, logos and the like. I assume it will always be called Pegasus because the rest is a mouthful but."
"Amy" Lou whispered.
"She'd be so proud Amy." Jack said, Lisa had taken his hand and had a big grin.
"She didn't use Bartlett Fleming." Tim groused " and you could have asked, my wife and my horse, but she would have been proud."
"She used Bartlett before Fleming dad and probably would have saved the Fleming had she known she's be on her own eventually but whatever. As to Pegasus being your horse, you gave that right up years ago."
"Whatever Amy" Tim said "she would have been proud, I'm proud."
"Well, I'm sure proud." Georgie said.
"How should we do this, what do you want to know ?" Amy asked laughing.
"Why did you leave and where did you go ?" Lou asked.
"We're skipping the whole Ahmed part ?" Tim asked.
"What do you want to know ? Amy asked. "If you believe there was something between me and Ahmed dad what could I say to change your mind ?"
"I didn't say there was anything but I wasn't there after."
"Don't remind me" Amy said. "Look, I think now that the Flemings' at home have discovered bloggers and paparazzi for what they are" Amy said looking at Georgie and then everyone else "go back and check all the tour paparazzi shots and blogs. Georgie followed at the time. Any other pictures of me and Ahmed Georgie, I mean aside from team photos and those at events ?"
"Nope, just the kiss."
"There were pictures of Ahmed on the town ?"
"Sure."
"Was I in any of those ?"
"Just the awards dinner."
"It's my word or your imagination Dad, Ahmed was delusional, he wanted to buy me, shall I continue where this is going ?"
"No, forget it." Tim said.
"Good, why did you leave and where did you go ?"
"I left for two reasons." Amy began. She sat forward and looked back at Lou. Ty rested his palm gently on her back. He could feel that she was nervous and rubbed her back a little. He felt her take a breath and relax a little.
"I left because I felt like I had no other choice. I dreaded waking up in the morning, looking at the barn, the loft, facing a dismal, lonely, tortured future. For the first time in my life Heartland no longer felt like home."
"Come on Amy, that's a bit over the top don't you think ?"
"Is it Lou ? Within a week of walking out leaving me devastated, Ty stood ten feet from me bringing his niece, his niece, a wolf cub to care for, he stood there looked at me in my home and turned away. Then he came back, again and again. On the road, in town, for months, he just ignored me, sometimes I imagined he hated me, sometimes pity, blame, sometimes disgust. I saw it in his eyes, your eyes, Grandpa's eyes, Georgie. Poor pathetic Amy still wearing his ring and there was nothing I could do but exist."
"We felt bad, it was sad watching you, it's kind of hard to ignore it, I had no idea how to act." Georgie said.
"Georgie, you had boyfriends before Wyatt ?"
"Sure."
"You broke up with one."
"Sure, Adam."
"And had Adam shown up and sat on your stoop staring at you whenever he wanted or say showed up for dinner or with gifts for Katie. How about just sat in front of you at Maggie's all day when you worked ?"
"Ok that would have been weird."
"And what would you have done ?"
"Told someone to get him to stop."
"Except I didn't and couldn't, it was Ty, and neither did anyone else because it was Ty. Grandpa's son, your brother Lou, Katie's and Georgie's uncle. Georgie spilled the beans one day, she said that Grandpa told her not to worry, that Heartland was Ty's home too and he'd always be welcome there. Six generations of Bartlett blood running through my veins and I felt unwelcome. I'd hear a truck pull up and my skin would crawl. That's no way to live Lou."
"You were never unwelcome." Jack said indignantly.
"Sorry Grandpa but that's just not true from my perspective. If Dad had done this while engaged to mom and he kept showing up what would you had done ? How about Peter with Lou ? Or even Scott ? My option was to come to you and tell you to choose, how could I do that to you, hurt you that way, force you to turn away your son ?"
"I'm sorry you felt that way Amy."
"Please don't be sorry Grandpa, Heartland was and is Ty's home, I knew that, and I was scared that if I chose to come to you and Ty had left, where would he have gone, who would have taken care of him ? He would have become that person, he would have crawled into that dark place of his and one day you would have blamed me for what became of him and I would have broken your heart. The alternative was worse, you could have said no."
"You said two reasons ?" Tim asked.
"I had changed Dad, I did, I had accomplished something amazing. I trained a team of jumpers on the finest horses in the world and they won. I succeeded, I was noticed, respected, I made connections, I was paid well, I liked buying $500 boots, I dreamed of a future. I was told that it was unwelcome. I was told by my grandfather to shut down and tow the line. Seriously ?, extend the barn ?, for what ?, we've got paddocks and meadows. I was told by the man I loved that he was disappointed in me, he judged my entire accomplishment on a 10 second video of me at a party and then in some bizarre twist in his brain he then told me basically that he could no longer stand to be in the presence of someone who would attend such a party when some wolf was dead and to basically decide on him or success. He told me that he didn't recognize me, that working with expensive horses was a waste of my talent as if for some reason either I or they were somehow unworthy of being in each other's presence and that if that's the path I chose he couldn't be a part of it."
"I had nothing to do but think, no friends, my life was Ty and work, my family just went on as if everything was normal. I realized over that time that the men in my life have always determined how far I would go, 8 years I worked on that ranch, newspaper articles, magazine articles, the Fall Finale, I fixed thoroughbreds and jumpers, plow horses and rodeo horses, I won the Ring of Fire, I won a position with Dark Horse and turned it down, I gave up college, I turned an insane, drug addicted horse into a Para horse, I fixed and ran Dexter and Charger and in the eyes of the men in my life it was all nothing. There would be no change, no advancement, no acknowledgment, just judgment."
"I didn't do that, I wanted you to." Tim started.
"Stop right there, and unless you can change the story I'm done with this, you wanted me to be with Ahmed, you saw us as a team, a match, you fawned and chased him and threw him in my face and when I announced that I had already quit and were considering other options, you doubled down and told me to reconsider and pushed like a street corner hawker and when all your handiwork was done, and my life was a shambles, you slithered off and hid. I have witnesses Dad, I understand you went to the rodeo with Casey and if you want to feel innocent because of that fine but I'm not buying it. The only thing I was more disappointed with than my life, was you Dad."
"I left to have a choice in who I was going to be and no one, not Ty, or Grandpa or Lou or my father was going to make my life choices for me anymore, I would stand and succeed or fail on my own. I chose to leave."
"I know that feeling." Georgie muttered.
"I'm sure you do" Amy said "and you left too Lou, if mom hadn't died you would have never come home."
"Nothing to say Ty ?" Tim asked.
"Actually no Tim, I'm not happy with the way I behaved back then and I think Amy and I have come to an understanding, we don't want to go back. We both made mistakes and lost so much, reliving it brings a focus to very confusing and dark parts of my life for the past 8 years a recklessness that I don't want to think about anymore."
"I think we can all understand that." Lisa said. "Tell us the rest of the story honey."
"Once I decided to leave I went back to my room and packed, wrote letters, sat with my finances. It was weird, I just did it almost devoid of emotion. I guess if I had taken the time considering I don't know if I could have done it. In the morning I went to the bank, bought a truck and trailer for cash that they were happy to deliver and park for me at Big River. During the day, you two were at Fairfield and I had borrowed Grandpa's truck, loaded my saddle and bags and got them moved over. When I was all set, I dropped the letters with the money and my instructions at the house and I rode Spartan out, loaded him and left. I don't think I said 5 words to any of you from when I made the decision to when I drove north."
Meg who had gotten up returned and handed her a mug of tea and took a moment to hold onto to Amy's hand, a little squeeze reminding her that she and Bert were there.
Amy took a sip and continued "I drove to Victor Whitetail's ranch and spent a week, I guess more like ten days, talking with him and trying to find some center for myself. When I decided that ultimately my only choice was to return to Europe I just planned it out. I found a spot for myself with the French team who were happy to have me, even temporarily, Victor and June were happy to keep Spartan and the truck for me and I flew off. I stayed with the French for a little under two months. We had moved from the Loire training facility to Antwerp and I was needing a break from work so I called Claire Harwell and got together with Nick and Claire for dinner. I was talking about my options when they proposed we work together."
"Nick Harwell ?" Lou asked.
"Nick and Claire Harwell Lou. He and Claire came by when he heard I was coaching Ahmed's team. We went out a few times, I had dinner at their house. Nick was training by contract and doing some buying and selling with Claire's help. They were frustrated that wealthy owners gave up so easily with promising horses that had behavior issues and just put them up for auction or sold them outright until they found the right one. He proposed that we head that off and buy them at a huge discount either directly or at those auctions. So we threw all our money into the pot and while Claire and I built round pens at a small farm we leased, Nick went out and bought horses. We made 120,000 euro on our first horse and by the time the market dried up we'd bought, trained and sold over a 100. I also fixed a stream of horses Nick and Claire found at the jumping grounds or through contacts. With my share and the promise of staying in business with them while here for a few more years I was able to buy this ranch."
Amy sat back and took another sip of tea and Ty took her hand so she leaned back against him for a second and then continued.
"Once here, I hired Bryce who showed up the first week after he found out that I was building a horse farm with rescue. I hired him on the spot. He came with Roberta who's a graphic artist and designer and we started buying and rescuing horses. I spent a lot of time going after rehab work, both equine and human, pushed for nutritional guidance services and consults at the vet school and local vets, made a connection with local tracks, rescue facilities, state wildlife, Roberta handled advertising, brochures, letters and all that. Through rehab we met Charlie and Trudy, through them Bert and Meg here, Trev and Steph, then through rehab again, Betty and my beautiful children which led to Trish and John. We lost Trudy, decided on JT's surgery, healed the girls, Charlie and Chuck. We became a family, we bound our wounds, took care of each other, overcame barriers, borrowed, loaned, paid back and kept building and growing."
"We believed in Amy and her dream" Bert said. "One night we had a storm party in the old house, early on before the kids lived here, Amy had the generator installed, something about Heartland and hot water, so this was a good place to hang."
"Heartland ?" Jack asked.
"When the power went out we at Heartland lost heat and hot water and while there never was much heat there were hot showers."
"Except when the power goes out." Lisa said.
"Exactly."
"I told you, she's obsessed with hot water." Ty said laughing. "Go on Bert, sorry."
"Well, Trudy was in the hospital, she was pretty sick by then and Charlie was stuck because of a closed road and couldn't get to her. Chuck was here of course, he was a mess back then in a bad storm without Trudy, Amy was the only other person who could calm him down, her and a horse. I couldn't sleep and found the stack of Amy's journals on her desk and just started reading. I didn't quite realize when I passed from Marion's to Amy's but over time the writing and focus changed. There was mature and well reasoned, compassionate hand, I was fascinated by that passion, her patience and understanding and her adamant belief that her way was right. Truth is it some of it was personal and I should have stopped but I couldn't."
"I read through her theories on herd health and a horse choosing it's own medicine. I read the results of her work, her notes and discoveries and methods and of course I'd already seen her working with the horses and people. By then we had also spent hours discussing the physical therapy aspects of rehab, it's how we met. By morning I was sold and began consulting her on cases soon after, both rehab and others. It was pretty clear early on that not only did we both have a deep respect for horses but that our beliefs and methods on treatment meshed. One day a few weeks later she came to our house for dinner and rolled out her crude drawing of the medical barn. The rest is a veterinary partnership founded in heaven as far as I'm concerned. Oh, by the way, why is one of our seconds attending you with a horse Monday morning ?"
"I need Georgie's skill as a rider so between us we can try to recreate the problem and feel it." Amy answered.
"Actually makes sense." Bert muttered. "I'll be there too."
"Fine but not too many, I'd like him relaxed." Amy added.
"Just, Ty, Georgie and I."
"And we'll film it." Amy added again. "I've seen the hesitation in videos, I'd like to see it up close. We have access to his rider ?"
"Sandra says yes, are we ready for her yet ?" Bert asked.
"Not until you're done, let's rule out the obvious or at least reconfirm it. I'll start back with the videos."
"Are we back ?"
"Yes Lou, sorry" Amy answered.
"Who takes care of all the money ? Where did it all come from ?"
"Charlie" Bert and Amy answered together.
"I'm sorry ?" Lou asked.
"Charlie Rodgers is our CFO, Rodgers Venture Capital."
"Wait, he really did go back to Ithaca ?"
"Yes he did Lou." Amy answered laughing.
"And you're friends, with one of the richest men around."
"Charlie and I are pretty close Lou."
"So how did this work ?"
"Charlie and Trevor were tasked to raise funds equal to our need at any given time. Trevor also handled insurance, contracts and real estate. When we ran out of banks and government loans and grants, we turned to donations and, well, sometimes Charlie just wrote a check. All legitimate, all paid back on schedule and all legal."
"Why ?"
"They brought Chuck to meet a horse and a horse lady who said she may be able to help them find their son. That 12 year old boy is now my acting ranch compound head wrangler and I think I'm going to make it permanent. Chuck spent more and more time here, Bryce took him under his wing. We all became friends and."
"And one day" Meg took over. "We had a boy come in with his mom and an aide. He was autistic, almost non communicative. I was standing with Charlie, Trevor Steph, and Trudy. Amy was with the horse and we watched this boy change before our eyes. Just like Chuck had, in relative terms to their afflictions of course. After we were sitting on the porch, Amy was holding Jackson, the girls, I don't know where they were, anyway Amy says, imagine if there were places people could just go to calm down their kid or just let them experience a horse, not a dog or cat but a horse, the most empathic creature on earth as far as I can tell. Trudy looked up and said wouldn't that be a wonderful thing Charlie, something to leave behind. She went so fast, he loved her so much." Meg had a tear in her eye and Bert hugged her.
They heard the double school bus horn sound as it was pulling up to the ranch house.
"Kids are back, we can go on in a few minutes let me get them settled" Amy said getting up. Ty stood with her.
"I'll come too." Betty said getting up as well.
"We'll hold down the fort." Lisa said tapping Amy on the hand.
Ty and Amy hugged Trish and John, Jackson was yawning as he stepped down and Ty scooped him up. "You look beat Jackson."
Jackson yawned wide "Yeah, what time we going in the morning ?"
Ty carried him through the front door that Betty held open.
"Night Gran." Jackson said from his spot against Ty's chest.
"Goodnight Jackson." Betty said leaning over to kiss him while Ty stooped a little for her.
"How about we bring breakfast with us so we'll meet at the porch at 7:00 and saddle up Harley and Merlin."
"Ok" Jackson yawned again. Ty was carrying him up the stairs and sent him in to get ready for bed then turned to Amy and the girls behind him.
"Night girls." Ty said as each came over to hug him. "Good night Dr. Borden" Maddie said her arms around him. Ty kissed the top of her head. Charlotte did the same.
"Don't stay up too late girls, early start tomorrow." Amy mentioned.
"We won't" they said simultaneously as the door to their room closed.
Amy and Ty walked back into Jackson's room. Amy smiled at him, he was already fast asleep, half tucked in, still in his jeans. Ty took a second and pulled them off before Amy gently raised the light quilt up over him and leaned over to kiss him. Ty followed and turned off the light.
When they got back to the kitchen they found Betty puttering and Trish and John at the table. "Ty, I'll have breakfast ready for you two, don't bother."
"You, sure ?" Ty asked.
"It'll be a madhouse here by 7. Girls will be up and out warming jumpers, Brin and Bobby will be here, Carlotta for a last wipe down before the brunch and then Pavel and crew."
"All before coffee, just leave it on the porch Betty I don't think I want to come in." Ty sighed.
"You're going to be waking up to it soon enough Ty" John said.
"Pavel And Carlotta ?" Ty asked. "Hey, the girls want to come in and jump up and down on the bed, I'm good, Carlotta vacuuming under and Pavel muttering in Polish over my bed, not so much."
They all laughed "ok, I get that" John said.
"How's it going in there ?" Trish asked with a nod towards the general direction of the cottage.
"Fine, come back with us and John can meet my dad." Amy said.
"I'm heading to sleep, you seem good." Betty announced.
"Go ahead Betty, I've got her." Trish announced.
"I don't need to be got, I'm good." Amy said as definitively as she could muster.
"Of course not" Trish chided wrapping her arm around Amy's waist and leading her through the door, "tough biker chic like you."
"I'm kinda tough." Amy said walking along now arm in arm with Trish who giggled and gave her a squeeze. "Hey, stop, that hurt."
John kept Ty back behind a few extra seconds before they started walking. "The car will be dropped off at 5:30 gassed and ready in the lot behind medical. We'll drop the flowers and stuff inside. Betty said your suit and shirts are cleaned and in your closet and to wear the dark blue tie."
"Tell Betty I'm a big boy can dress myself."
"Wear the blue tie dude, it's not worth it." John said "trust me, mother in laws, don't go there."
"No worries John" Ty laughed patting him on the shoulder. "I'll wear the blue."
Those still in the cottage when Amy, Ty and Betty left milled around. Meg took it upon herself to straighten up, Lisa got up to help.
"So Amy's made you a job offer ?" Lou asked Georgie, it was a quiet question between her, Georgie and Wyatt.
"Ty's second and her teaching assistant at school. The commitment to Pegasus is for six years. the TA one which lasts through school." Georgie answered.
"The, uhm, pay is good, enough to live on ?"
Georgie thought for a second and pulled out her phone, typed a number into her calculator and showed it to Lou.
"U.S. ?" Lou asked.
"Yup."
"That's very generous on top of tuition."
"She's being hired as a professional Lou, I'm a law intern, mine will be less and we'll work hard, but together we're doing well." Wyatt added "we're good Lou, really."
"I've always thought you two were good Wyatt but mother's worry especially when their daughters take evening and weekend waitress shifts and their fiancés take double bartending shifts all while going to college. I know you two have worked hard and scrimped for your decision, I'm proud of you both."
"Thanks mom."
"I should have said it sooner Georgie."
"It's fine mom, apparently all of us Fleming women go through it."
"I guess" Lou answered.
Meg, Lisa and Bert were at the kitchen table nibbling at fruit and talking about a trip to Europe in the coming months. Jack and Tim were talking off to the side, their conversation was obviously getting a little heated but they kept their voices down.
"Tim what the hell are you going on about, I didn't hear anything at all like what you're describing." Jack said."You're just jumping to conclusions just like you did 8 years ago, you were wrong then and you're wrong now, don't you hear anything."
"Come on Jack are you blind, she goes off with Ahmed and four months later he flies halfway across the world and offers her a mansion. Now she's got some deal with another rich guy who out of the goodness of his heart throws her bundles of money. She's very close to him she says. Do you actually believe that. Once maybe but twice ? What is Ty thinking ? And this guys son in the barn what the hell is that. The guys a."
Only Meg could hear as she was closest to Jack and Tim and Bert and Lisa were discussing something. Meg's face turned stoney listening to the diatribe going on behind and sat stock still for a second, both Bert and Lisa looked up as Meg stood and turned to Tim who stopped mid sentence.
"What ?" Tim snapped when he saw her a foot from him staring. It happened very fast, her right hand shot up and she slapped Tim full force open handed across the left side of his face as the door opened and Tim tripped over the back of a loveseat and tumbled over to the other side. The sound of the raw contact made everyone in the room immediately stop and look over. Meg took two steps forward towards him before Trish stepped in from the door and in front of Meg stopping her both hands palms raised. "Margaret ! Simmer."
John immediately stepped over and fixed a small fallen end table while holding the lamp and setting it right again while moving to Tim who was trying to sit up. "Hold up friend, why don't you stay down for a second till we can get your bearings." John said laying a rather large unmoving hand on Tim's shoulder.
Ty couldn't get by John who was blocking access to Tim so he stepped over next to Jack and looked on, a rather satisfied smirk across his face. Jack looked over at Ty and put his hand on Tys' shoulder and sighed.
"Who the hell are you and what the hell is wrong with you lady ?" He shouted at John and then Meg.
"I'm John and you should lower the volume a little. Trish, come look at him, Bert take Meg into a neutral corner and get her a drink please."
John backed away and Amy bent over Tim along with Trish. "Dad you Ok ?" Lou looked on from the side.
"No I'm not Ok, what the hell was that ?"
"That was a right cross Tim." Jack said looking over with a smile which made Ty's smirk turn into a grin.
"Funny Jack, you're a barrel of laughs and what the hell's so funny ?" He said shooting a fiery glance at Ty.
"Sorry Tim, just one of those awkward moments that makes us laugh like watching someone dance around after stubbing their toe or stepping on a lego." Ty said which made Jack break down laughing again.
"You know" Tim started, "You know" he repeated sputtering.
"Quiet down Tim and let me look at your face." Trish said examining it with her fingers and exerting pressure on several spots making him jump. "That is definitely going to leave a mark."
"You think, is that your medical opinion ?"
Trish ignored the sarcasm, she was used to it, it's always the nurse's fault in the ER. "Nothing broken on the outside, get him an ice pack. You want a pain killer ?"
"He's sober Trish." Amy said.
"Welcome to the club, get him two aspirin Amy, open up let me see the inside" Trish said pulling a small flashlight off a clip on her keys.
"I have a loose tooth."
"No, you lucked out, you have a loose crown. John call Benny, he's probably still at the bike shop. We'll get you fixed up Tim, you dizzy ? Nauseous ? Head ache."
"She didn't hit me that hard and of course I have a head ache." Tim said.
Meg started getting up "Not hard enough, I could hit you again you son of a"
"Margaret enough already" Bert scolded cutting her off and gently moving her back into the chair. "Georgie, get a bag of ice for her hand please. Would you mind explaining yourself ?"
"He's disgusting and Charlie and Chuck, I can't imagine what goes on in that head of yours, she's your daughter !" Meg rattled almost incoherently.
"Jack want to help out here ?"
"I think it best we table it for now and discuss the why's and wherefores later Bert."
"Maybe for the best." Bert agreed sighing.
"Come on Mr. Fleming, let's get you on the bus and over to the dentist, Benny will meet us at his office as soon as he stops laughing." John said slipping his phone in his pocket.
"Where are you going to find a dentist this late." Tim snapped.
"He's a club member and a very nice guy." Trish added.
"Send her the bill." Tim pointed as he stood.
"Let's worry about that later" John said taking Tim's hat from Amy and handing it to him.
"I'll come along dad" Lou said getting up.
"I'll come too" Jack said "Don't wait up Lise."
"It won't take long Jack, an x-ray, some glue and an impression for a new one." Trish said. "He'll be fine."
"Easy for you to say."
"You got hit by an English professor Tim, stop whining or we'll get t shirts and hats made up." Trish said going through the door.
"I like your friends Amy, good wholesome sorts !" Georgie said laughing "should we score the knockdown, I'm all over a 9.8 ?"
"Meg, do you want to explain yourself ?" Amy asked walking over and laughing at Georgie.
"No I do not, it's not worth repeating, I'm sorry, I don't know what came over me."
"I heard you mention Charlie and Chuck ?" Amy pushed.
"I'm sorry Amy, really, but don't make me say it."
"I can only imagine." Amy sighed. "I'd say this party was over. What's he going to look like tomorrow ?"
"A nightmare" Wyatt said "It was already turning when he stood up."
"Well, I'm not parading him in front of the Dean, that's for damn sure. We'll figure it out. Lisa, I'm leaving him to you, Lou and Grandpa."
"Dealing with your father's crap seems to be my lot in life Amy though I can't imagine why."
"Comes with the package." Amy answered. "Grandpa, me, Lou, our kids and Dad."
"Come on Lisa, the champ and I will escort you home." Bert said walking over.
"See you all in the morning" Lisa said as Meg turned to Amy.
"What am I going to do with you Margaret ?" Amy asked with a smile.
"Why don't you put her in the no no chair ?" Ty said with a big grin.
Georgie laughed "Katie had a no no chair."
"My kids were perfect." Amy said which made Bert laugh.
"Enough Bert, we'll see you both for brunch."
"Amy ?" Meg said looking at her.
"It's fine Meg, I guess he's lucky it was you, I always though Peter or Ty would deck him." Amy said.
"Ty, 10 or so for quick rounds, I know you'll be with Jackson."
"That should be fine Bert, the kids get what we do." Ty agreed seeing them out.
The four cottage residents spent a little time clearing things away.
"You staying up Georgie ?" Amy asked.
"I am grabbing two beers, my man and frolicking in a tub of hot water." Georgie announced with a grin. "I'm all in for the hot water by the way Amy."
"Soaking in a tub doesn't sound half bad" Ty said looking at Amy.
"Grab me a water lover and let's get tub filling." Amy agreed and after hugging Wyatt and Georgie goodnight headed into the bedroom.
Georgie lay back against Wyatt, his arms were wrapped around her, she was a little off-center and they were kissing. They set the whirlpool and heater so bubbles swirled around them. "Have you thought about staying at the ranch or off Georgie ?"
"I don't know Wy, I lived at Heartland and then in an apartment though we may be able to rent a small house like Ty's, who knows. Anyway, I'd like to see the loft apartments, so not in the house but at the ranch at least to start maybe ?"
"Charlie said the lofts are nice." Wyatt said.
'We'll ask Amy to show us."
"Uhm Wyatt, you're Ok that I make more than you, for now at least ?"
"I'm not that guy G, you're working as a professional, I'm an intern, I'm fine."
Wyatt nibbled at Georgie's neck. She sighed and leaned back "and what's this all about ?" She asked smiling. Wyatt leaned over and whispered in her ear, "oooh, well we can start that here" she cooed flipping herself around onto her side and into his arms, her nails ran lightly down his side as their lips joined.
Next door Ty lay back against Amy in a steamy tub, her fingers and nails roaming gently over his chest and stomach. "Ty ?" She whispered.
"Hmmm ?" He hummed, eyes closed.
"Is that like cold ?" Amy asked.
"What are you talking about ?"
"Your uhm, sticking out of the water like that ?"
"My uhm ? Are you serious right now ?"
"Your penis Ok ?"
"Better than uhm, when the a/c turns on and cycles, I guess."
"So if I blow on it or fan it with my hand ?"
"Have you been drinking ?"
"No but it's just there, staring at me."
"Ok, tub time is definitely over, you have definitely been in here too long." Ty said standing up.
"Ok, fine" Amy sang getting up. She wrapped herself in a warm towel and then used one to rub over her hair.
Ty dried off, crawled into bed and switched off his nightlight. A minute later Amy crawled under the blanket and snuggled in. "What the hell was that in there ?"
"I just wondered is all. How about now, is it cold now ?"
"No it's quite comfortable."
Amy snuggled closer and leaned up to nuzzle at Ty's neck. She raised her head and whispered in his ear.
He laughed immediately, "Hide the Penis ? Really Ames ?"
"You don't want to play ? I made up rules."
"Rules ? This I've got to hear."